Hannah and Rocky’s wedding was filled with majestic redwood trees, beautiful florals, heartfelt moments, and best of all… donuts!

Hannah shares: “We hoped to have every part of our day reflect our purpose for getting married, which was not to have a big wedding but rather have a meaningful occasion to share with the people we love and see… We wanted our whole day to be personal. We love donuts, so we had donuts as our dessert instead of cake.”

Having an intimate wedding was more meaningful for us. While beginning to look and plan a larger, more traditional wedding, we stumbled across Paige’s photos. This initially sparked our interest in just how beautiful and raw these weddings were able to be. We loved being able to look out at our friends and family and know that each person there, we had specifically chosen to be there because they had deeply impacted our life. We also knew that these were the people who would be in our daily lives and supporting our marriage for the years to come ahead.

What were some of the challenges you faced planning your intimate wedding? Was it difficult to pare down the guest list?

I think the main challenge was fearing the reactions of our large families and friends who we chose not invite because of the intimate setting. To compensate this, we ended up having receptions for both of our families after we got back from our honeymoon. We actually really enjoyed this part because we were able to spend quality time with more people that we love than we could have on our actual wedding day.

Did you have any ‘issues’ with the small guest list from friends and family? If so, how did you address them?

We were very worried about the reactions from friends and family because of our small guest list, but no one resisted in the way that we assumed they would. Most everyone understood and thought that we were being very wise.

What were the highlights of the ceremony?

The highlights of the ceremony for m, were our gospel centered ceremony, our personal vows, and the absolute beauty of the redwoods surrounding us. I’ve never experienced anything like promising my best friend my forever in such a stunning environment.

What were the highlights of the reception?

The reception was so sweet because it felt like family. We were so easily able to talk and celebrate with each of our guests. It was also nice, not having to worry about anything but my new husband.

What was the best thing about having an intimate wedding?

I think the best thing about having an intimate wedding for us was the beauty of the simplicity of it. It felt like an acoustic version of a song, with everything stripped down, and I think there’s such a beauty in that. In that, we weren’t distracted by worrying about decorations or timing or any of the things a bride and groom worry about. I also loved how we got to fully engage with everyone of our guests. It felt like family.

What advice do you have for couples who are considering an intimate wedding?

We highly recommend it. We loved being able to spend our day with just the closest people in our lives and each other, while still being able to celebrate later with all of our family and friends. And there is something magical about being able to just walk into the woods and get married that we can’t really explain.

Are your bridesmaids a bunch of book lovers? If so, they will obsess over any one of these 10 Jane Austen themed gifts! Even if some of your girls are not into all things literary, these gifts are so elegant, they’ll adore them anyway!

Enamel pins are such a fun gift idea! They can be worn on the lapel of a jacket, or displayed on a banner. This Pride and Prejudice pin from janemount would be a lovely addition to any book lover’s collection!

Robes are a timeless, elegant gift option for your bridesmaids. They’ll be worn on your wedding day, and long after. If blush is one of your wedding colors (or even if it isn’t!), these nine robes we’re featuring from Etsy are perfect gifts for your bridesmaids! There are also a few absolutely stunning bridal robes that you are going to love wearing!

These silky satin robes from LeRoseGifts are a lovely choice. They come beautifully packages, so your bridesmaids will squeal with delight when they open them!

These cute and flirty robes from SSweddings are decorated with a pretty floral trim. There are several different floral prints to choose from, so we suggest getting each of your bridesmaids a slightly different print.

Nothing beats the simplicity of a courthouse elopement. No guests, no stress! And just because a wedding is simple, doesn’t mean it can’t be gorgeous. Jacob and Sara’s elopement in Baltimore at the Mitchell Courthouse proves just that!

We decided to have an intimate wedding to focus on sharing the experience and ceremony privately together. We both loved the idea of having this secret that we could embrace together while we wait to tell our family and friends. Having the intimate wedding kept the emphasis on why we wanted to get married and the relationship we shared.

What are some the challenges that you faced planning an intimate wedding?

We really did not face too many challenges. We kept most of it really simple which made planning simple.

Was it difficult to pare down the guest list?

It was not difficult, we decided early on no one would be there.

Did you have any ‘issues’ with the small guest list from friends and family? If so, how did you address them?

No.

What were the highlights of the ceremony?

Our ceremony was very short, but the highlight was definitely just being able to say our vows and feel the commitment we were making to each other as we move forward in life.

What was the best thing about having an intimate wedding?

The best thing was all of our attention was on each other. There was not any pressure to please anyone else on our wedding day, and although it may sound selfish it really made the day that much more special.

What advice do you have for couples who are considering an intimate wedding?

The best advice I could offer is no matter how small your wedding day is its still YOUR day and can still be just as special (or even more so). Having an intimate wedding does not mean you cannot have the same experience as brides or grooms having bigger more elaborate weddings.